Current Events > Teen Titans CYOA: Romance Resurrected part 7

(+) Yeah! (+)

C. Ahi Ahi tuna
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RANDOMIZE

A

"Salmon."

"Yes, we've got plenty of it now that it's in season," Carter says. "How many do you think you'll need?"

"Well, with what I'm planning and the number of guests... I shouldn't need more than a dozen."

"That's still quite a lot of salmon," Carter says. "I'll see if I can get Gerik to help me."

Carter leaves the room, and Penelope tends to the chowder for him while you finish up with cake preparation. You bring the batter around and pour it into the deep cake pans. You get three cakes out of this much, but that should be more than enough for everyone.

Penelope puts the chowder on simmer while Carter and Gerik return with two carts of chilled salmon.

"Perfect," you say to them. "Gerik, as a reward for helping your brother, I'll let you lick the spoon from the cake batter I just made."

"Yes!" Gerik says as he walks over with a big grin.

"No fair, I was helping you the entire time," Carter says.

"Just help me prepare these," you say. "We're going to start off with a type of salmon fillet confit, but we'll also need to prepare some bacon, toppings, sauce and an ice cream side."

"Bacon?" Carter says.

"Ice cream?" Penelope says.

"Trust me, it'll work," you say. "Carter, fillet the fish, and then cut the meat into rectangular cubes so that they're three centimeters thick by three centimeters wide by 12 centimeters long. If my calculations are correct, each salmon can produce maybe eight of those."

Carter does as instructed, cutting away the sides of the fish to throw away the head-spine-tail bone section. He slices the meat into the specified cuts, setting them aside on a tray.

"Yeah, you had it about right," he says. "We're going to have just enough for everyone."

"Any remaining meat, you can combine together into a paste," you say.

Carter scrapes and cuts the meat from the scales and puts it in a big bowl to then mash it like potatoes.

"Gerik, finish licking the spoon," Penelope says. "Then wash up and get Fredrick and the girls to help with the table."

"Mokay..." Gerik grumbles with the mixing spoon still in his mouth.

"I've go get the bacon," Carter says as he heads for the meat locker.

"Very good," you say. "Slice them nice and thick, and long enough to wrap a couple times around the salmon cuts."

"Bacon-wrapped salmon?" Penelope says. "Is this from that same comic book series?"

"It is, actually," you say. "For the berries, if we have any blackberries, that'd be best."

"I'll go fetch some from the garden," Penelope says.

She heads out while you confit the dozens of salmon fillet. Since confit requires slow cooking inside the meat's own fats, you have plenty of time to use Cold Magic to freeze the salmon paste and whip in some cream to make salmon ice cream. At the same time, you prepare a unique sauce utilizing a bit of pickle relish and soy sauce.

Penelope and Carter return with the berries and bacon before the confit process finishes. Penelope washes the berries while Carter cuts the strips.

"Young Master Rorek," Nadine says. "You're still in here?"

"He apparently wanted to do more than just one course of the meal," Carter says. "We already have the main course roasting in the ovens, but he's even coordinated the soup, salad, fish and dessert."

"Oh, yes, I can smell the chocolate," Nadine says. "But, you said fish, and I heard from your father that you brought the quail out for the Young Master, so why is the bacon out?"
---

"It's related to the fish, Mrs. Wilmarth," you say. "You'll see when I've finished it up."

"I suppose I will," she says. "But I do think you should know that the young ladies are getting a bit restless. Except for Lady Raven, she's remarkably patient."

"She's a strong, independent young woman," you say. "As for the others, they'll all see me again soon enough when we all sit down at the table."

"How many times have we given them that line every year?" Carter asks.

"And how many years has it been where it actually works?" Penelope adds.

"Yes, yes, I understand," you say. "But I at least need to finish the preparations."

"Then I'll help with the table and seating," Nadine says.

Nadine heads out again, you finish up the confit and wrap them all with bacon, Carter assisting.

"Okay, how do we cook it now?" he asks. "The bacon is obviously not cooked."

"That's where Heat Magic will come in," you say. "Have you heard of an oven known as the Salamander?"

"Yes but pretend I haven't," Carter smirks.

"It heats like a broiler oven, but at much higher intensity and just from above. They're very expensive but they make for unique ways of cooking, such as caramelizing. We're basically going to caramelize all of these fish fillet with the bacon so that they stick together."

With Carter helping at about a dozen at a time--three to each hand that can cast the Heat Magic--you get through the salmon fillet and make them all glistening rectangles of red and orange.

"We drizzle just a bit of this salmon cream atop the bacon," you say as you take out a spoon. "Then we top the cream with an alternating pattern of cilantro and berry. Four pairs, just like this."

You show Carter the pattern while Penelope prepares bowls of the soup.

"Then we drizzle a swipe of the green sauce," you say as you use another spoon. "Then take a nice scoop of the icy salmon cream as the side."

"So that's the ice cream you mentioned?" he asks. "It's made with the fish paste?"

"Well it has to match with the salmon that is the focus of the dish," you say. "But I trust you can replicate this for the almost 100 servings."

"Yes, sir," Carter says. "You go ahead and join the others at the table."

"Alright," you say. "Thank you, Carter."

"Think nothing of it," he says as he copies the swipe of green sauce.

You quickly wash your hands, then head out of the kitchen and to the dining hall. Your father is at the head with mother, your sisters, and grandparents. Your cousins and their parents are next, and some of the higher ranked families with them, such as the Dubois. A seat for you is left open, and a seat next to it, surely for Raven. Raven herself is near the back of the group coming in.

You walk over to her and you each greet each other with a smile. You help her move up towards the front and to the seats. You pull one out for Raven to let her sit down, so that you're on the

A) Left
B) Right
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B
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A) Left

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

A) Left

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A

This puts you next to your mother, while having Raven closer to the Dubois.

"Hello, all," you say as you sit. "Sorry for my absence, I admittedly took over preparing dinner. I hope everyone likes it, Carter Wilmarth's soup will be up first."

The Wilmarths, along with the various waiting staff the other families brought with them, wheel out the carts with bowls of the lobster clam chowder. Everyone is served, and Raven picks the soup spoon without hesitation.

"Very good," you say quietly to her.

"Well, I just looked across at what your grandparents picked up," Raven says back.

You and Raven chuckle while putting your spoons in the soup.

"Mmm, this is good," Raven says.

"Yes, the lobster adds a good texture to the chowder, as well as a flavor that's more savory than just the clams and potatoes," mother says.

"The chowder itself is the right smoothness, too," Roselind says.

"Not too watery, not too thick," Rebecca says. "It's just right."

"So, Raven," Mr. Dubois asks. "We have been curious about zomething since thiz afternoon. We asked Rory about your homeland, and he gave what he could, but we were hoping you would give uz more."

"Umm, sure, why not," Raven says. "What would you like to know?"

"What is thiz 'Azarath' like?" he asks. "We families here come from all over ze world, yet we don't know a thing about it."

"Well," Raven says as she stirs her soup. "It's a lovely, peaceful place. The people of Azarath are all taught pacifism, and they won't even fight if their lives were endangered. We have towers of steel and stone like anywhere else, but most of ours are adorned with a stylized dove symbol, as Azarath also has a strong belief in the power of hope."

Renee grumbles and sneers from her seat to the right of her parents.

"But what about the geography?" he asks. "Mountains? Fields? Beaches?"

"Umm... Not really any of those. Azaroth is a very condensed country, for being so small."

"And what of the people?" Mrs. Dubois asks. "Iz it diverse?

"No, it's pretty much 100% pure blooded Azarathians," Raven says with a nervous smile. "Though, my mother isn't a native Azarathian. They reached out to her when she was... going through a rough time in her life. It was also when she was pregnant with me, so they gave her a place to live and raise me safely."

"Then where is she from originally?" Mr. Dubois asks.

"America," she says. "Specifically Gotham."

"Then was she Latin American?" Mrs. Dubois asks. "Or Asian? Perhaps a mix of zomething?"

"I'm not sure, actually," Raven says. "She and I have never really worried about that, since she's fully adopted Azarath's culture. I don't have any pictures of her, either, so I wouldn't be able to show you what she looks like."

"Well, she must surely resemble you in some way," Raydon says from over his parents' shoulders. "Though I zuppose you have features that resemble your father, too."

"Yes, it sounds like your father didn't go with you to Azarath," Mr. Dubois says. "Why iz zat?"

"That's kind of a long story," Raven says, starting to sound uncomfortable.

"Well, we will listen," Mrs. Dubois says.

A) Have the subject end there
B) Have it explained in general terms
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A is for Abort
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A) Have the subject end there

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

A) Have the subject end there

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A

"I think we should leave it at this," you say. "Raven's told me before it's a sensitive subject, we shouldn't pry."

Everyone else nods, accepting your suggestion.

"Thank you," Raven whispers as she smiles at you.

Everyone continues eating and finishes the soup. The next wave of carts and dishes comes out, and everyone marvels at the aesthetic of the lightly sizzling salmon and bacon next to the cool scoop of ice cream.

"Salmon, wrapped in bacon?" Renee sneers. "Are zese the high class version of pigs in a blanket or zomething?"

Roxanne and even Regina snicker along with Renee.

"Saumon Confit Flamme. That is to say, slow cooked salmon," Carter says. "A dish that Young Master Rory helped prepare."

Hearing that you're the one behind the dish, Renee, Roxanne and Regina are wide-eyed embarrassed for insulting it.

"I think it looks lovely," mother says. "A nice golden orange for the salmon, and the little touch of green and black with the toppings."

"Perfectly caramalized with direct, intense heat for a long time," you say. "Carter assisted in the Salamander effect."

"Salamander?" Roselind says.

"Like the slimy lizard?" Rebecca says.

"No, as in the legendary creature of fire," you say. "But that's besides the point. As you can see, the Saumon Confit Flamme is also served with ice cream, and a sampling of green sauce made from pickle relish and soy sauce. This way, you can have several different flavor profiles in one dish, such as: the salmon alone; the salmon with the bacon; the salmon and bacon with the berries and cilantro; the salmon with the sauce; and the salmon and bacon with the cream."

You watch Raven closely as she uses her fish fork and knife to cut off a part of the exposed salmon. She puts it in her mouth to taste the pure salmon.

"Mmm," she smiles. "Tender, falls apart in my mouth."

She then goes to the other exposed end and cuts it off, to dip it in the relish-soy sauce before popping it in her mouth.

"Oh, that's a nice, tangy sweetness," she says. "But, um, which fork and knife do I use with the bacon segment? It's both fish and meat."

"Go ahead and stick with your fish fork," you say. "You'll want to save your meat knife for the main course."

Raven gently moves the berry and cilantro aside before uses the fish silverware to cut through the bacon and salmon. She pops that into her mouth. And her eyes widen as she takes a breath in through her nose.

"Mmm!" she says.

"It's good?" you chuckle as you cut into your own.

She nods with a chuckle and smile, then finishes chewing and swallows.

"The bacon is crisp while the salmon is tender," she says, "and they each have their own kind of saltiness."

"Oh, the berries add a nice touch, too," Rebecca says.

"The sweet and the salty makes my lips pucker," Roselind says.

"Oh, let me try," Raven says as she quickly cuts into another salmon-and-bacon section.

She makes sure the berries and cilantor stay on the fillet as she stabs into it with her fork. She pops it all into her mouth, and she lights up again.

"You're right," she says after chewing and swallowing. "The blackberries had a tart sweetness on top of the salt from the salmon and bacon."

You look over past Raven and to the other guests, and they also enjoy all these flavor combinations themselves. Even Renee, who mocked the dish before, seems to be overcome with the flavors.

"Okay, I'm going to try it with the ice cream now," Raven says as she cuts into the bacon again.
---

Raven switches to her ice cream fork, and uses that to take a scoop before combining it with the saumon confit flamme. She puts it all into her mouth, and again lights up, even letting out a happy squeal.

"Sho good...!" she says, a hand over her mouth as she talks while chewing; she then swallows before continuing. "The warmth of the fish and bacon, then the cold of the cream, it's really nice. But, what's the ice cream flavor? I didn't notice anything different from the fillet."

"It's salmon ice cream," you say.

"Salmon ice cream?!" your sisters blurt.

"Don't get uppity," you say. "You liked it, didn't you?"

"It's very creative," Raydon says. "And it doesn't clash with the salmon zat way."

"Exactly," you say.

"The salad will be out shortly," Penelope says. "Probably a weak follow-up to the lovely salmon, but it'll be a good palette cleanser before the main course. Young Master Rorek helped prepare that, as well, along with tonight's dessert."

Everyone voices interest while the salads are carted out.

"After dinner," father says, "the adults can retire to the parlor for after dinner drinks. Bret, if you wouldn't mind preparing that ahead of time."

"Right away, Master Ronald," Bret says with a bow. "And what for the youth, Young Master Rorek?"

"We can always return to the veranda," you say. "We can even try a few party games. Perhaps..."

A) Charades
B) Pictionary
C) Musical Chairs
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B) Pictionary

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A)
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C
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B.
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B

"Pictionary."

"Ah yes," Rinaldo, Regina's brother, says. "I believe I am still due a rematch from last time."

"And I welcome it," you say. "But let's make sure to keep it clean this time. Both figuratively and literally, I recall you made quite the mess with the paint last time."

"You use paint in Pictionary?" Raven asks.

"Well, we like doing more advanced takes on Pictionary," you say. "Paints, inks, sometimes even aura drawings."

"Oh, like what you showed me?" she says.

"Yes, the fluid aura manipulation," you say.

"Sounds fun," she smiles to the group.

"Then it's decided," you say.

Everyone returns to the salad, crunching the crisp lettuce and munching the juicy tomatoes.

"The dressing is really nice," Raven says.

"Thank you," Penelope says. "I did my best to blend a bit of honey into the normal dressing for some sweetness."

"It definitely worked," Raven says. "Sweet and creamy, and it goes well with the cherry tomatoes."

With everyone pretty much finished with their salads, the main course is wheeled out now, still fresh and steamy from the ovens.

"Introducing Cailles farcies au riz aux uf faon," you say as the plates are served. "Quail Stuffed with Risotto and Eggs. You'll notice on the side is a poached egg, and the plate is adorned with a few dabs of Madeira Sauce. Again, it's all there to create different flavor combinations between the quail itself, and the quail with its stuffing."

With the help of her meat fork and knife, Raven pulls off one of the quail's drumstick legs, and takes a bite as is.

"Mmm," she says. "So juicy."

"Not to mention the crisp skin," mother says. "This was pan fried then oven roasted, I presume."

"Exactly," you say.

Raven then dips a part in the sauce before biting.

"Mmm~!" she says, perking up like before. "It's so sweet, but still tart."

"That would be the sugar and honey blending with the wines," you say. "It's almost like a syrup, really. But that's just the quail and sauce. Now you need to try the part with the stuffing."

Raven, along with everyone else, prepare to cut open the quail. She slowly slices in, and you can tell she feels a bit of resistance from the cabbage and everything else. As she takes a slice out of the quail, the cabbage opens and out pours the creamy mix of quail egg yolk and chicken risotto.

"Wow..." she says. "Oh, wait, it'll mix in with the sauce."

"That's alright," you say. "That's another good flavor combination."

Raven scoops up the egg-risotto stuffing without sauce and pops it into her mouth.

"Mmm," she smiles. "This is quail egg with chicken meat?"

"Yes. You should try it now with the quail meat."

Raven takes off some meat from the other drumstick and plunges it into the egg-risotto. She then scoops it all into her mouth, and she hums all over again.

"It is quite brilliant to hold all this inside the cabbage," mother says. "The cabbage itself doesn't affect the flavor, while keeping the eggs from soaking into the quail."

"Well don't give me too much credit," you say. "I got the idea from somewhere else."

"Young Master Rory," Penelope says. "Carter and I finished the preparations on the dessert in your stead. I hope you don't mind that the modeling chocolate was shaped into flowers."

"Not at all," you say. "That's actually what I was planning on using it for. And be sure we serve the cake with..."

A) Tall glasses of milk
B) Vanilla ice cream
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B
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B) Vanilla ice cream

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

B) Vanilla ice cream

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B

"Vanilla ice cream. The cake is going to be very rich, so the ice cream should help."

"Yes, Young Master," Penelope bows.

Penelope has Carter, Gerik and the other waiting staff follow her to the kitchen while everyone continues enjoying the quail. You also enjoy it, especially combining the Madeira sauce with the eggs and quail meat for the complete flavor profile.

The carts return with the chocolate cake and the ice cream. Everyone manages to have a generous slice and scoop, as well as a chocolate flower atop the cake.

"Oh wow...!" Raven says as everyone observes the checkboard pattern on the cake itself. "That's amazing."

"Thank you," you say. "It was a complex process to make sure that pattern turned out the way it did. The darker portions have the higher concentration of the chocolate, plus there's the ganache frosting."

"Mmm~...!" Raven says with a beaming smile. "So rich."

"Which brings us to the ice cream," you say. "The vanilla can bring the chocolate down so that it doesn't overpower you."

Raven takes a bit of cake and a bit of ice cream and eats them together. She brightens up even stronger, her face blushing red.

"It's another great combination of warm and cold," she says. "The ice cream melts as the cake crumbles and they become like this special milkshake, so that it all goes down smoothly."

"I must say, Rory," father says, "this has been quite the amazing meal."

"Thank you, Father," you say. "And we should commend the Wilmarths for firstly letting me help out, and then helping me. Carter and Penelope are excellent cooks in their own right."

"Agreed," father says. "Now, let us adults all retire for wine and cheese in the parlor, and the young ladies and gentlemen away to the veranda."

Everyone stands up from the table and lets the waiting staff clean up after you. Your parents and grandparents lead all the parents away to the parlor while you, Raven and your sisters lead the way back to the veranda. The lights are on, with the doors and windows closed, and the easels set up near the back.

"By my count, we have 28 people," Randson Rivers says. "Two teams of 14 seems too big, and three teams is uneven."

"Four teams of seven seems fair," Reece Sullivan, Ramona's brother, says. "We could even give each team a corner."

"Yes, that works out quite nicely," you say. "I already have six of my seven with myself, Raven, my sisters and my cousins, so my seventh will be..."

A) Rumiko
B) Ruby
C) Rolanda
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Cartridge88 posted...

B) Ruby

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

B) Ruby

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scubasteve42 posted...

Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

B) Ruby

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B

"Ruby."

"Yes!" Ruby cheers as she jumps up.

She hurries over to join your team while Renee, Roxanne, Regina, their brothers and Rolanda form the second team. The Robertas, their brothers, Rayna and her brother, and Regan are the third team, which leaves Rumiko, Rhiannon, Riva, Ramona and her brother Reece, then Rhea and her brother Ryan.

"Alright then," you say. "We have our teams, we have our easels, we have our corners. But, let's try not to use your magic for advantage. Specifically, the Jones Sound magic and the Dvorak Illusion magic."

Regan and Rayna, specifically, look guilty, remebering when they were caught last time.

"So, who is up first?" you ask.

"Well obviously you should go first for your team," Rinaldo says. "I'll go first for mine."

"I'll go first," Ryan says.

"So will I," Ralph says.

"Well alright, then," you say. "Where are the cards?"

"Here you are, Young Master," Carter says as he brings the deck.

"Thank you, Carter," you say as you draw the first card.

You look at the card, and there is one word at the top and one at the bottom. The top word is "hamster", the bottom word is "wood".

"Okay, our word for this round will be..."

A) Hamster
B) Wood
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B)
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A.
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B) Wood

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B

"The bottom word," you say.

You pass the card around and everyone reads it, understanding what you mean.

"Alright then," Ryan says as he reads it. "Ready... Go!"

You grab the brush and dip it right into the brown, then start drawing.



"Tree," Ross says.

You then point specificially to the trunk.

"Trunk?" Reed says.

You pinch your fingers to signal "close." You draw more lines and even circles.



"Logs?" Raven says.

"Wood!" your sisters say.

"Yes!" you say.

"That was an easy one," Regina says.

"Yes, it seems like everyone got this one," Ralph says. "Alright, let's pass it along to the second round of artists."

"Here you are," you say as you hand the brush to Raven.

"Me?" Raven says. "I-I dunno, I'm not exactly an artist."

"You don't have to be an artist, you just have to draw."

"O-Okay," she shrugs.

Raven steps up to the easel, and Renee suddenly snatches the brush away from her brother.

"Let's see if you can manage zomething decent," Renee sneers at Raven.

Raven sneers back while Riva and Randson step up for their teams.

"Let's see..." Randson says as he reads. "Okay, we'll go with the bottom word, too."

The card goes around for everyone to read while the papers move to a clean sheet.

"And..." Randson says. "Go!"

The painting begins, and Raven goes with the yellow.



"Butter?" Roselind says.

"Cheese?" Rebecca says.

"Corn bread?" Ruby says.

Raven shakes her head. She tries to think of what else she can draw. She then scribbles other shapes.



"Gold!" Reece says for his team.

"Oh..." Ruby and your sisters say.

"Those were bars..." Ruby adds.

"I didn't have the idea for the coin or the goblet soon enough," Raven shrugs.

"As if you would have gold coins and goblets," Renee says with her nose turned up.

"You didn't do much better," Rolanda says. "You drew this weird noodle going around a post."

"It was a necklace," Renee says. "A necklace, of gold."

"Seems like Riva's team is the only one that got it this round," Randson shrugs. "There aren't stakes to this game, are there?"

"Yes, stakes," Rinaldo says. "I like that idea."

"I agree!" Regina says. "The winning team should be awarded something."

"Maybe more of that cake," Ryan says.

"No, it should be something better than cake," Rhea says.

"Nothing involving Rorek," Raven says. "At least, nothing unreasonable."

"It'd only be a dance..." Rhea pouts.

"For that matter," Raydon says. "Perhaps ze gentlemen of the winning team get to have a dance with Raven."

Renee and the other suitors all gasp in offense, while Raven blushes a little.

"Don't be that way," Raydon says to them, but especially his sister. "You can all fawn over Rory, let us at least admire Raven."

"But a dance apiece seems reasonable enough," Rinaldo says. "What do you say, Rory?"

"Yeah, Rory, what do you say?" Raven asks with a bit of a smirk.

A) Agree to the terms
B) Suggest an alternative
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Cartridge88 posted...

B) Suggest an alternative

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

B) Suggest an alternative

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scubasteve42 posted...

Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

B) Suggest an alternative

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B

"Perhaps an alternative," you say. "One where Raven doesn't smirk like that."

She smirks more as she gives you a playful push.

"Then what do you suggest?" Ralph asks.

"Well, I promised Raven a full day in the library," you say. "That's either tomorrow or Wednesday. On the open day, how about the winners join Raven and myself on a morning trot with the horses?"

"That does sound nice," Ruby says. "How've they been?"

"Oh they're all very healthy and happy," Roselind says.

"I bet they'll enjoy having riders enough for everyone," Rebecca says.

"We'll need a bit more of an incentive than that," Roxanne says. "There haz to be zomething else you can offer."

"How about the lake?" Reed suggests.

"Lake?" you say.

"Yes, of course," Reece says. "We'll ride up to Lake Null and have a refreshing dip. It is Summer, after all."

"That's even better than dancing," Regina says. "We can bring our swimsuits in the saddle bags, and change once we arrive."

"Umm..." you say, seeing Raven frown at you from the corner of your eye.

"All in favor," Reed says, "say 'aye'!"

"Aye!" everyone aside from you, Raven, your sisters and Ross say.

"Then it's settled," Reed smiles as he pats you on the shoulder. "The winners get to go with Rorek to the lake tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?" you and Raven say.

"Yes, so that you and Raven can still spend time in the library on Wednesday," he says. "Now, let's continue the game, hm?"

Rebecca takes the brush, along with Raydon, Rumiko and Regan.

"We really need to win this now," Raven says. "That way, it's just us going to the lake."

"Don't worry," Roselind says. "Becca's got this."

"Let's draw..." Rebecca says as she reads. "The top word this time."

She passes the card along and everyone prepares.

"Ready..." she says. "Go!"



"Pizza!" Roselind says.

"Yes!" Rebecca says.

"What?" the other teams say.

"Let me look at zat," Raydon says as he comes around to her easel. "That iz just a circle and lines!"

"Well isn't that what pizza is?" Roselind says.

"If you wasted time with the details, then that's on you," Rebecca shrugs.

"Let's not get too upset now," Reed says as he takes the brush. "There're still plenty of rounds for everyone else to make it up. Alright, let's see..."

Reed reads the card.

"We'll draw this one," he says as he passes the card along.

"Which one?" Rayna asks.

"The uh... The top one," he says as he dips his brush.

Rayna, Rolanda and Ramona nod and begin.



"Ninja star!" Ruby says.

Reed shakes his head.

"A normal star?" Roselind says.

"Polaris the North star?" Rebecca adds.

Reed shakes his head.

"Compass rose," Raven says.

"Dice!" some of the others shout.

"Yes!" Rayna, Rolanda and Ramona respond.

"What?!" your team blurts.

You look over and see their easels.



"Well, yes, that's definitely a single die," you say. "But Reed, you said you chose the top one."
---

"I did? Oh, shoot, you're right, I'm sorry. I said the top one, which I suppose was dice, but I must've remembered the bottom word, which was in fact a compass rose."

"Then how do we score that round?" Rolanda asks.

"Reed said for the top one, and that's what we drew," Ramona says.

"And our teams got it right," Rayna says.

"But even if Reed drew the wrong one," Raydon says, "Raven still guessed his picture. Everyone gets a point."

"Sorry about that," Reed says while the other teams grumble. "Luckily Raven was sharp enough to see what I drew."

"Yes, considering you didn't quite finish the drawing," you point out. "The average compass rose makes sure to at least include the eight principle directions."

"Cousin, are you accusing me of trying to throw the round?" he asks. "That hurts that you don't trust me."

Of course, the way he says it, he's not hurt much at all.

"Ah'll make sure mah drawings even clearer," Ruby says as she takes the brush.

She reads the card while Regina, Rhea, and Rayna's brother Ratmir take over for their teams.

"Okay," Ruby says. "We'll be drawin' the top word. And Ah do mean the top word."

She passes the card around and everyone begins.



"Cat?" you say, noticing the circle with triangles.

Ruby nods, but motions to keep going.

"Street cat?" Roselind says. "That is a street, yeah?"

"Stray cat," Rebecca says.

"Alley cat!" you and Raven say at the same time the Robertas and Riva do.

"Yes!" Ruby and Ratmir say.

"Points for those teams," Reed says while Renee gets annoyed.

"I think our team is in last," Rinaldo shrugs.

"Don't be so upset, brother," Regina sarcastically retorts.

"My turn," Roselind says as she walks up with Roxanne, Rhiannon and Roberta Rivers. "And we'll draw... The bottom."

The others see the card, and the round begins.



"Alligator!" Rebecca says.

"Yes!" Roselind says.

"Not again!" Rumiko blurts out.

The others come around to see what she drew.

"That's an alligator?!" they say.

"Looks more like a skateboard going up to some kind of burning ramp," Ryan says.

"Again, you don't need details to get the point across," Roselind says.

"Though, I did almost think it was a crocodile," Rebecca says.

"That just leaves the last round," you say.

Ross walks up with Rondel, Reece and Roberta Rhodes.

"We'll go with the top word," he says as he passes the card.

"Ready," Reece says. "Go!"



"Uhh..." Raven and Ruby both say.

"Fire?" Roselind says.

"Lava?" Rebecca says.

Ross only shakes his head.

"An explosion?" Ruby asks. "Like an eruption?"

Ross shakes his head again.

"Is it just the color orange?" Raven asks.

"Ross, add more to the picture," Rebecca says.

"That's not enough to go on," Roselind says.

"Halloween!" Rumiko says.

"Yes!" Reece says.

"Ross..." you grumble.

He simply shrugs and puts the brush down.

"Then Rorek's team and ours are tied for first," Reece says. "Five a piece."

A) Confront your cousins
B) Worry about the tie breaker
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B)
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B.
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B
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B

"Then let's come up with a good tie breaker," you say. "How about one last round, but instead of paints, we use our aura."

Everyone lets out an "Oooh..."

"In that case," Reece says, "I'll--"

"I will draw!" Rumiko says as she hurries forward.

Rumiko takes a card from the deck. She looks at it, then hands it to you.

"We duraw za top," she says.

You check the card and see the top word is "labyrinth." That's a pretty complex word to draw, even with paint or pencil.

"Ready," Rumiko says. "Go!"

You use your white aura and Rumiko her bright red, and you make them as fluid and malleable as possible. You make a square frame, as does Rumiko.

"Square," Ramona says.

"Picture frame?" Ruby says.

You and Rumiko keep going, and you add the lines inside. You try to keep that as simple as possible for more the sake of your focus than anyone's guesses.

"Oh, a maze!" Raven says.

"Yes!" you say.

"We win!" your sisters say while the other team groans.

"Gomenasai," Rumiko says to her team with a bow. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Ms. Rumiko," Reece says. "You did your best."

"So it's decided then," Ruby says. "Tomorrow mornin', our team will ride out on horseback to the lake."

"Is it that far?" Raven asks.

"Not particularly," you say, "but it is rough to get there on foot. The horses help with the hills at the halfway point, as well as the stream we have to cross."

"It'll also take some time to get the horses prepared in the morning," Carter points out. "But we can get that done while everyone has breakfast."

"Yes, good thinking, Carter," you say. "For that matter, our group will have lunch..."

A) At the lake
B) Once we return
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A)
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Cartridge88 posted...

A) At the lake

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Malcrasternus posted...

Cartridge88 posted...

A) At the lake

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A

"At the lake. We can pack something before we go and make a picnic out of it at the lake."

"A very good idea, Young Master," Carter says. "But that will be for the morning. Does anyone wish to have something more before turning in for the night?"

"Are there any more slices of the cake Rorek made?" Raven asks.

"Oh yes," Roberta Rhodes says. "That cake was so good.

"I'd like some of that, too!" Roberta Rivers says.

"Hai~, cakey please," Rumiko says with a big smile.

"Alright, a few slices of cake will be on their way," Carter says as he sends his brothers. "How about any drink requests? I'd imagine some milk to go with the cake."

"Yes, milk all around should be fine," you say.

Carter nods and follows his brothers out.

"Well, if you all are going to the lake," Ralph says, "what should the rest of us be doing tomorrow?"

"I'm sure there is plenty to do without me around," you say.

"Not really," they all respond.

"What do you all do the other 51 weeks out of the year, then?" you say with a slight chuckle. "You will all be just fine for the early afternoon."

"I don't know about zat," Raydon says as he glances sideways at his sister.

Renee frowns at him, then pouts as she walks over to sit with Roxanne.

"Well, there is the pool here," you offer. "You all can use that while the rest of us are at the lake."

"But it won't be the same without you there," Regina pouts.

"Too bad, so sad," Ruby grins. "If you lot are nice, maybe we'll all join ye after we return."

"When will that be, by the way?" Randson asks.

"We'll make sure to have lunch around 1," you say, "and then start our return once we finish. But certainly no later than 2, so expect us back at about half past."

"Which means we leave at...?" Raven asks.

A) 10:00
B) 10:30
C) 11:00
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A
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A.
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Malcrasternus posted...

A.

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A

"10 AM," you say. "That way it's not too early but not too late in the morning."

"Very good, Young Master," Penelope says. "That will also give us time for prepping the horses and preparing the lunches."

"Second dessert is served," Carter says as his brothers wheel in carts with the cake; Carter himself is carrying a gallon of milk and several glasses.

Raven, the Robertas, Rumiko, and even your sisters, partake in slices of cake, but just about everyone has a glass of milk.

"Mmm~...!" Raven says as she smiles with blushing lips. "This is so good. Why didn't you make this before, like at Titan Tower?"

"Because the oven in the Tower is only so big," you say. "But I'll be sure to try when we return there."

Raven smiles even brighter, and she continues eating, which makes that smile even brighter than that.

"So you... Actually live together?" Rhea asks. "Even though you only just met?"

"Well it's not just us," Raven says. "The other Titans live there. Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire."

"Honestly, I didn't even plan on staying there for as long as I have," you say, "but I got rather used to it. And it helps when it has such good company."

You give a smile to Raven, and she blushes a bit more as she giggles.

"So there's nothing stopping you from getting your own place?" Roxanne asks.

"So that you're not staying with her?" Regina asks, pointing at Raven.

"Hmm... I never really thought about that," you say while Raven scowls.

"Wait, what?" Raven says. "I thought you liked staying with me-- I mean, the Titans."

"I do," you say. "But admittedly, it would give us more privacy, if you... wanted to stay over."

"I suppose that wouldn't be so bad," Raven smirks.

"Umm..." Roxanne and Regina say.

"Maybe it's okay if you're still staying with the Titans," Regina says sheepishly.

"Well it'll be something we can think about," you say. "For now, I think we should turn in for the night. And to make one more request, I would like breakfast to feature..."

A) Bacon
B) Sausage
C) Pancakes
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Cartridge88 posted...

A) Bacon

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A/C

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjxAAezqJZQ" data-time="
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BC
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RANDOMIZE

B+C

"Sausage and pancakes. You know the kind, right?"

"Of the sausages or pancakes?" Penelope asks.

"Of sausages," you chuckle. "The pancakes will be fine as the normal recipe."

"Very good, Young Master," Penelope says with a slight bow. Now, for the sake of our guests' convenience, we have put names on the doors. I will accompany the ladies while Carter shall accompany the gentlemen."

Penelope and Carter escort the guests, leaving you with Raven, your sisters and your cousins.

"Now..." you say as you walk over to Reed and Ross. "As for you two. What do you think you were doing during that game?"

"What do you mean?" Reed asks.

"You know exactly what I mean," you say. "We've known each other our entire lives, so I think I'd know if you two were this forgetful, or this bad at art."

"It was an honest mistake," Reed shrugs.

"Well at least your tactic was subtle enough that it's believable," you say. "Ross might as well have just passed. At least it wouldn't have wasted paint and paper."

Ross simply huffs as he looks away.

"This has to do with Raven, doesn't it?" you say. "You two wanted the other team to tie and then win, so that I would go to the lake with them and not Raven."

"But I can't sense that they're being deceitful," Raven says.

"Probably because they're so good at it," you say. "You two are so against her, but over what? Her father? Her DNA? We've had this discussion, she and I love each other and you have to accept that. Everyone does."

"Yes, you made it clear, Rorek," he says. "You made it clear that's what you want, but that doesn't mean the family has to accept it."

"Yes, our family history makes that clear, too," you say. "But if we're the head family, then the head of the head family dictates how this happens. Grandfather Sixth did that, and I'll do the same."

"And do you know who pays for it?" he counters. "Everyone else in the family."

"Everyone else? What I'm doing will be good for everyone else! We won't have these contests for the right to marry someone. No one will be treated as a consolation prize."

"Consolation prize?" Ross says, stepping forward. "Are you calling my father a consolation prize?"

"That's not what--"

"Are you saying my mother settled for him because she couldn't be with your father?"

"That's not what I'm saying!" you shout as he gets even closer. "I'm saying this so YOU aren't the consolation prize. I know you, I know how you feel about--"

"Ah ah ah!" he says out of a shyness. "Don't say her name!"

"My point is, I know how you feel about her. Bit she's a bit blinded by this idea of 'The Rorek' and the main branch being so great. There won't be any of this competing for prizes! No one will be moved aside and no one will get so blasted upset over not marrying a certain someone. This family of ours won't be torn up like this."

"That's really great of you, Rory," he says. "But that doesn't change the issue here with her!"

"It isn't an issue!" you say, wanting to smack him in the head. "Just stop being such a pain in the arse!"

Ross grumbles, but he doesn't retort. He simply huffs again, and heads out of the room. Reed chugs the rest of his milk, then puts the glass on the table before following his brother.

"Well..." Roselind and Rebecca say together.
---